This week, at the close of the article series on learning styles, I'll
keep it short with a few tidbits and tips to "keep it real." Immersion
is the big idea in the Language Learning community, and I agree to a
point - however, if we overwhelm our students, they tune the second
language out.
So... keep it simple: think about how we learned our first language.
When a baby begins speaking, he usually says names of people first -
Momma, Daddy. Next is the ever-exciting "bye-bye" and "Hi!"
Afterwards, our precious darlings begin adding.... NOUNS! Simple nouns
of things he wants. Like cracker, cookie, milk, drink. Finally we get
to hear a few words that can be added to everything like PLEASE, MORE,
and THANK YOU.
So, when learning a second language, HARNESS this method. Your brain
(and your child's brain) has already done this once - you're reading
this article, right, and it is written in the complex language of
English. So the proof is there YOU CAN LEARN A LANGUAGE!
Congratulations!
Your second language has a few different rules, but is still made up
of parts like manners, greetings, nouns, adjectives, and verbs and
lots of little articles and such. Focus on the main parts first. As
you are looking to progress this summer, think of the words you hear
most often come from your mouth or your children's mouths. Translate
those words, and try to not say them in English for the day! The next
day, choose a new word.
For all my friends that like steps like me:
STEP 1: Make a list of ten words that you and your family say
frequently.
STEP 2: On the same page, translate those words to the target language.
Post the page on the fridge.
STEP 3: Ask your family to choose one of the ten to NOT say in English
that day.
STEP 4: Agree on a "stake" - what happens if you slip? What happens if
you use the word a lot? Do you want to keep score? Or put a penny in a
jar for each time you slip? Or do a funny dance as "punishment" for
using the word in English?
So - HAVE fun! Let us know what word you used, and any anecdotes that
you have to share. I'll be using this with my own family this week -
in German! (I'm bilingual English and Spanish, so I have to choose
something out of my comfort zone!) Stay tuned next week to read about
how our 6 yr boy, 4 yr boy, 3 yr girl, and almost 18 month old boy
(he's only saying, "More please," these days!) as well as my husband
and I do on this fun challenge!
Gotta go make my list! Keep it fun!
Suzanne Gose
